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In a time when parenting means positive reinforcements, many adults find themselves seeking a system of rewards that will not only entice good behaviors, but also teach their teens valuable lessons along the way. Guitar lessons fit this bill for a number of reasons.

First off, few teenagers can resist the allure of guitar lessons. Couple them in a reward system that involves not only lessons, but also a computer and they're very likely to take them quite seriously.

There's just something about the potential to become the next great player that makes the musically inclined do their part to earn the lessons they receive. Online guitar lessons are particularly ideal for teens that are new to the instrument and are not entirely sure it will be the one for them.

The benefits of online guitar lessons for teens include:

* Easy parental supervision. When guitar lessons are taken online or via computer programs, they are easy to supervise since the action takes place at home.

* Easy to follow. Many good programs are available that provide basic lessons for teens to take. These lessons are created in such a manner that they are easy to follow, even for beginners. Most programs start out very basic and offer not only instructions about the instrument, but also provide some music theory along the way.

* Ability to work at their own pace. Good guitar lessons online or in program form offer something face-to-face lessons do not - the ability to take the same lesson over and over again or move on when the need arises. There's no requirement to book another lesson when a program is doing the teaching.

* Pause ability. When something isn't understood in a guitar lesson, it's easy for the teen to stop the program and repeat the section over and over again until the lesson is learned. This can be much less frustrating for a teen who wants to learn right but who might be embarrassing by going slow in a group lesson.

* Easy to take away. Guitar lessons in computer form are a great tool to use as a reward, and they're also easy to take away if grades aren't where they should be or behaviors are undesired. Since no class has been "booked," there's no instructor to disappoint or class slot that might be lost. This gives parents the leverage they might need in trying to implement a system of rewards and punishments.

* Increased concentration. Music instruction in any format is known for helping those who take part increase their ability to concentrate and reason through problems. Music has also been known to help increase math skills and generally is thought to provide other extra benefits, as well.

Guitar lessons can be a great tool for parents to use in creating a system of rewards for positive behavior. Filling a desire many teens have, these lessons also provide some side benefits teens themselves might not be aware of.

With benefits that can even impact school work and translate to other areas of life, as well, guitar lessons or music instruction in general is a smart choice for parents to endorse.

Before you know it Prom will be here for your teenager. This is one of the few opportunities they get to get really dressed up in formalwear and have a real date. Girls in particular have been thinking about this since they were little and have the idea of the perfect date and going out for dinner and dancing firmly implanted in their minds. When I was that age even though the prom was a big deal, we didn't spend anywhere close to what kids these days are spending on prom night. These days both boys and girls alike are spending hundreds of dollars on their special evenings.

As far as dresses go, Prom dresses are being bought and worn of all different types of styles and colors with some girls going for the longer more traditional look and some of the more daring ones going for the shorter dresses. Regardless of the style or color they choose they all realize that the right shoes are a critical part of their Prom wear. Knowing that they will probably be dancing quite a bit, all prom goers should be concerned with comfort. It will be tough to smile and dance the night away if your shoes are causing you to get blisters or just making your feet ache. Be sure that the shoes you choose are comfortable to walk in and dance in. Don't think that you will just take them off and dance barefoot, you can end up stepping in something gross on the floor or possibly even cut your foot on broken glass.

If you are wearing a short dress you may want to think about getting a nice strapped sandal that looks young and stylish. To compliment an elegant long dress you can wear short heels or as some choose a ballet slipper. Stay with a look that is feminine regardless of what you choose. Take the time to look at many different styles and colors so that you have the best possible combination you can.

Now on to the guys, the majority of who will wear a tux to the Prom just like I did well over 20 years ago. Okay, closer to thirty years ago but never mind that! Some of the guys will go with the traditional cummerbund and bowtie and others may opt for a different look. A lot of teenage boys will just go with the shoes that come with their rented tuxedo because they just don't care whether they have the latest fashion or not. Still, you need to take the style of your date's dress into consideration and attempt to coordinate your style with hers. Of course you don't have to match exactly but your outfits should compliment each other.

While some individuals pay no mind to seeing a teenager behind the wheel of a car, there are others who cringe at the site. As soon as they see the words "Student Driver" plastered on the car, they envision one more hazard on the road. This could be considered a type of stereotyping, but there is a reason in which these people feel this way. They have probably seen in the media and even in person a multiple vehicle accident caused by a teenage driver or an accident a teenager driver got into on their own.

However, there are also statistics that support the fact that teenage drivers tend to see more wrecks than older drivers and this usually has to do with the amount of experience of the driver. Then again, there are things nowadays that are distracting teenage drivers that used to not even exist. Amongst those things are cell phones. With cell phones teenagers are not only talking, but they are text messaging while driving. Yes, there are adults that do this as well, but the results can be devastating when mixing this type of activity with inexperience.

Boys VS Girls

Many insurance companies will have a higher premium for teenage male drivers than teenage girls. This is because the boys are more likely to take risks than the girls. Nevertheless, teenage drivers as a whole take more risks than they do their adult counterparts. It is simply in their nature and has caused some to question whether or not teenagers should be permitted to drive.

As an answer to the debates regarding when a teenager should and should not drive, various states have put rules into force that have either increased the legal driving age or required more criteria to be fulfilled before granting a driver's license. Of course, this goes for both the males and the females regardless of their degree of risk. The last thing that anyone wants to see is another young promising life killed in another terrible car accident.

Does this make them bad drivers?

Technically, none of this makes young people bad drivers. There are some exceptional young drivers on the road. This gives great reason for them not to be stereotyped just because they are you. Yes, the insurance premiums may be higher due to what the statistics tell the insurance companies, but there are some very competent young drivers on the road today.

One of the things that should be taken into consideration is the fact that they have recently completed driver education. Everything is fresh in their mind in regards to traffic rules that most adults forget over time. They have practiced their driving skills with a licensed instructor; therefore these teenage drivers can be the most competent drivers on the road.

When they first hit the road, they are not displaying the sloppy driving habits that they will possibly make when they get older. It is true that they are inexperienced, but the truth of the matter is the fact that the accidents we hear about tend to be the select few. What the media reports makes us feel that teenage drivers do not have an ounce of competency within their systems.

Even if the wreck is not their fault, the moment the word, "teen" comes out of the reporter's mouth, it is automatically assumed that they were at fault. Yes, it does happen, and yes, teenagers are known for risk. There have been measures put into place that allow them to hone their driving skills better than ever, but, unfortunately, the bad reputation has been there for a very long time. Just keep in mind that not every teenage driver is a bad driver and not every adult is a good driver.